An attractive, tall, upright rounded shrub which is great for form, colour and texture in the garden. Features long, shiny, bluish-green leaves, with white undersides throughout the season, keeping its colour through fall. Large silver catkins appear in late winter/early spring before the leaves which are soon followed by whitish-yellow flowers good for cutting. One of the first plants to bloom in northern climates, while most of the landscape still sleeps in dormancy.